Clock runs out on West Vigo rally

Warriors build 22-0 lead, hang on to hold off Vikings at goal line

EVANSVILLE - Harrison's 28-22 football victory over visiting West Vigo could have come down to a single climatic play in the dizzying final seconds of Friday night's season opener at Romain Stadium.

Only it never happened.

The Vikings had attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock with a second or two remaining, but did it in the direction of their center's butt from the shotgun formation, which doesn't work in high school football.

So the clock ran out, first-year Harrison head coach Cory Brunson declined the penalty and the game ended for Harrison.

"I think we got a little tired defensively in the second half," said Brunson. "But we sucked it up there at the end and found a way to win."

After leading 22-0 45 seconds into the second half on the second touchdown reception by Maliek Parker, Harrison saw the Vikings rally.

"We got a little too satisfied," said Parker, who had five catches for 97 yards. "But when it mattered most our defense had to step it up and they did."

That defense had played well early, but repeated short fields for the Vikings finally took a toll as their quarterback, Jimmy Maples, found room to run and throw.

Maples had converted a fourth-and-1 to give West Vigo a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line with 55 seconds remaining. Then a pass interference penalty in the end zone gave the Vikings another first down inside the 3-yard line with 40 seconds left. Maples subsequently tried to sneak the ball in and went nowhere.

"We were ready for it," said Kamron Patterson, Harrison's 6-foot-2, 375-pound tackle. "Me, David Scott and LaTerrance Kyles just stacked it up. I don't know who hit him first."

Then the clock ran out.

"I wasn't surprised," said Parker, who also plays defensive back. "They were going super slow. I think they just ran out of steam. They were really huffing and puffing."

Said Patterson: "I thought they'd get a play off, but when they didn't and the game just ended it was the happiest feeling in the world."

The Warriors had looked like they would coast early as sophomore quarterback Ryan Hales looked comfortable throwing the ball and running the Harrison spread offense in the first half.

He accounted for their first three scores, two on throws of 9 and 47 yards to Parker after running for the first score on an 8-yard keeper. He finished 14-for-23 passing for 171 yards without an interception.

"I'm just glad we won," said Harrison senior Kyndrick Hancock, who ran nine times for 59 yards and a touchdown. "That's all that matters now."